The House of the Dead 2: Remake Review

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Fast Facts

The House of the Dead 2: Remake

Developer: MegaPixel Studio
Publisher: Forever Entertainment
Website: https://www.hotdremake.com/
Genre(s): Action, Shooter
Platform: Xbox Series X|S (Also available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC)
Age Rating: PEGI 18
Release Date: 24/10/2025 (prev. 07/08/2025)
Price: £20.99

A code was provided for review purposes.

Welcome Back

More than twenty years after its arcade debut, The House of the Dead 2 lurched back to life back in the summer with the release of The House of the Dead 2 Remake on the Nintendo Switch and PC. And now, in time for the spooky season, it has finally come to Xbox (and PlayStation).

MegaPixel Studio’s remake aims to capture the same frantic rail-shooting chaos and tongue-in-cheek horror that made the original a cult favourite, all whilst layering on a modern coat of paint. And in many ways, it succeeds – however, a few rough edges prevent it from fully recapturing the original’s magic.

Once again, players step into the roles of AMS agents James Taylor and Gary Stewart, sent to an Italian city overrun by a mysterious zombie outbreak. Their mission? To track down Goldman, a eccentric yet powerful man who is somehow involved in the disaster…

Of course, there are plenty of obstacles in their path, mostly the undead who want nothing more than to eat them (or throw axes at them, surprisingly). It means they spend their time blasting through canals, cathedrals, and decaying streets, all filled with grotesque monsters, massive bio-weapons, and cinematic showdowns – it’s gory, absurd, and completely over-the-top, but that’s exactly what makes it so entertaining.

Familiar Bones, New Flesh

The House of the Dead 2: Remake keeps the 1998 game’s skeleton largely intact, with both the Original and Arcade modes returning, joined by Boss and Training modes for added replay value. Branching routes and multiple endings make a comeback, rewarding repeat runs with alternate scenes and pathways, whilst hidden weapons add some variety to the carnage for those willing to explore (or shoot the right targets).

The core loop remains satisfying, with the game automatically guiding you through each area whilst you blast zombies, rescue survivors, and rack up points… Simple. However, certain design tweaks change the rhythm a bit; enemies feel faster and less forgiving than before which can become frustrating, while boss’ weak spots aren’t as vulnerable this time around, making it harder to land damaging blows.

When the action flows and you’re nailing perfect shots in succession, that classic rail-shooter thrill kicks back in, but it’s clear that some changes have been made that hurt the overall pacing and feel of the game (especially for returning players).

A Classic Reanimated

Visually, it’s clear throughout that improvements have been made, with character models that are sharper, textures that are crisper, and cutscenes that feel snazzier. Many enemy redesigns stay true to the originals whilst giving them a modern lick of paint, so there really is a lot to like here. A lot of the graphical issues that came with the initial PC release have been fixed too, though there’s still the occasional muddy texture or lighting issues that shows up. Thankfully, it’s nothing too drastic, ensuring that the visual improvements do make a positive difference.

However, it’s the new voice performances that are perhaps the most divisive change in The House of the Dead 2 Remake. The original game’s voice acting was notoriously bad, but in a way that gave it charm, with the stilted delivery and awkward pacing becoming a beloved part of its identity. The remake replaces those lines with cleaner recordings, but the results are flat and forgettable… but in a less endearing way.

What was once ‘so bad it’s good’ has become merely bland, stripping away a key part of the series’ goofy appeal. It’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but for returning players, it’s hard not to miss the old-school deliveries. But, hey, at least the original soundtrack makes a return, and whilst the new arrangements are fine, the classic tunes inject a nostalgic pulse that the rest of the remake sometimes lacks.

Controls-wise, controller aiming is serviceable as far as light-gun shooting is concerned – you may want to tinker with the settings a little to suit you, but if you played the game on the Dreamcast with a controller back in the day, you’ll be fine. Of course, it’s never as intuitive as using a light-gun or a pointer of some sort, so other platforms MAY be the better option in that regard. However, if you’re planning on playing with a controller anyway, it’s fine here.

Verdict

The House of the Dead 2: Remake is a faithful yet imperfect revival that captures much of what made the 1998 original so memorable, even IF it doesn’t quite recapture all of its magic. The updated visuals, extra modes, and familiar fast-paced action make for an enjoyable return to the series, though some small design tweaks, uneven pacing, and flatter voice performances do hold it back from old-school greatness.

Still, it’s a worthy re-visit of an all-time classic for fans of the series, all whilst acting as a fun introduction for newcomers looking to experience one of arcade gaming’s most iconic horror shooters.

You can purchase The House of the Dead 2: Remake for Xbox Series X|S on the Xbox Store here.
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